Landscaping Ideas for Front Yard with Rocks

Boulders on the property might pose a challenge for homeowners wanting to landscape an area. Deciding how to landscape granite boulders in the front yard can seem even more daunting. Whether you already have granite boulders or are looking for ideas that incorporate rock into the landscape, placing granite boulders in the front yard complements the aesthetic of nearly any style of home.

Placing the Boulders

Properly arranging your boulders is essential to creating a natural union of rock and landscape. Too many, and you run the risk of cluttering the landscape, while solitary rocks can appear as an afterthought. To offset these common pitfalls, place the largest rocks first, then arrange smaller rocks as needed. Odd-numbered groupings of several rocks or large solitary boulders are the most natural-looking arrangements. When placing large boulders, lay the rock on its side with the largest end facing downward. Then bury up to one-third of the boulder. Laying the rock on its side with the largest end facing downward mimics the way boulders come to rest in nature, offering a very organic effect.

Work with Existing Layout

Granite boulders are versatile, complementing a number of architectural styles. From southwestern desert landscapes to Mediterranean or minimalist designs, granite boulders can be incorporated into your front yard. Use boulders to line walkways and paths, make a rock garden, or create terraced berms that can be used for planting and breaking up a slope. You can never go wrong with taking your existing layout and working with it to get the best use of the space. Things that may have been previously viewed as an obstacle, such as a slope, can become a unique feature of your yard with clever boulder placement.

Softscaping

For best effect, boulders should appear as if they've always been there. In nature, succulents, grasses and flowers often sprout up next to boulders. Recreate this in your front yard by planting bright perennials, annuals, grasses and shrubs or trees that suit the overall landscape and style of the home. Select plants of varying heights and take mature plant height into consideration so as to not dwarf the boulders. Fill in any gaps with wood chips or mulch to create height and depth. Sloped yards also benefit from boulder berms that make for level flower beds.

Lighting

Lighting is another important element when landscaping with boulders. While they're probably hard to miss during the day, boulders can all but disappear in the dark of night, posing hazards. Lighting the boulders or surrounding area increases the dramatic effect and provides additional safety. Experiment with uplighting or backlighting to get just the right nighttime effect to highlight the boulders.